Recently paved LaRue Road in southern West Milford provides contrast to the white ice-control aggregate on township roadsides. Township officials recently agreed to contract a street sweeper at a cost of up to $25,000 in an effort to have all the shoulders clear by the end of the month.

Initially expected to continue through July, the sweeping of West Milford’s roads was recently put on course to finish by the end of the month by the Township Council. During its May 21 meeting, council members agreed to contract a street sweeper to join the town’s two for $1,000 a day for up to 25 days in an effort to rid the roadsides of the rock aggregate remaining from winter’s road maintenance efforts.

"We have a lot of bike riders. We have a lot of motorcyclists. I think that it’s important that we clean these roads as soon as possible and not at the end of the summer," Councilman Lou Signorino said.

The township spread thousands of tons of ice-control aggregate last winter, more than 2,000 in February alone. Plows and vehicles invariably pushed it to the roadsides and lawns along West Milford’s 150 miles of paved roadway to the ire of many.

"It’s a safety issue. And beyond safety, it’s an issue for the gardeners, the landscapers, and, even better, the homeowners," Councilwoman CarlLa Horton said.

The notably white, quartzite-heavy gravel’s visibility makes it easier for stability challenged dual-wheeled riders to avoid, according to local cyclist and Highlands Economic Development and Tourism Corp. member Jon Sherwood. However, it also makes it unsightly, according to Mayor Bettina Bieri, who said she has received a number of complaints regarding the grits and their color this spring.

To fund the proposed $25,000 allocation, council members decided to raid the snow removal account in the developing 2014 budget.

"[The grit is] there because of the snow, and it’s an expense associated with it," Councilwoman Michele Dale said. "We have the emergency fund if we do have the snow event in December."

Signorino stressed the proposed $25,000 contract is designed to be a one-time expense to deal with a lot of heavy grit from a harsh winter.

"I expect those machines to be working and I would like to see the sweeping done much sooner in the future," he said.

A $25,000 contract would cost the average taxpayer with a $247,000 property assessment $2.23.